THE BPD ENERGETIC PARTICLE DETECTOR AS PART OF THE SOLAR X-RAY PHOTOMETER ChemiX FOR THE “INTERHELIOPROBE” INTERPLANETARY MISSION

Abstract

The Background Particle Detector (BPD) is an important block of the Polish-Ukrainian X-ray spectrophotometer ChemiX under development for the “Interhelioprobe” interplanetary mission. The BPD primary objective is to detect incoming charged particle fluxes, measure particle energy spectra and safeguard the instrument in case of emergency. The present work describes the BPD laboratory prototype and current results of adjustment and measurements of its important characteristics, in particular the analog signal processing unit and the source of secondary power supply unit. Laboratory benches designed for controlling the parameters of analog module and for characterization of small-sized organic and inorganic scintillation detectors of high energy charged particles are presented. The functional block diagram of the experimental model of digital signal processing line and information data streaming line designed using ProASIC3E М1А3РЕ1500 FPGA are introduced and explained. The results of respective digital modules’ tests performed by using experimental ModelISim Microsemi ME 10.2c program simulator are also presented.

Keywords

• high energy particles
• interplanetary space
• satellite device
• scintillation detector
• printed circuit board
• programmable logic device